Portable desk book rest



Jan. 10, 1928.

H. M G- SMYTH v PORTABLE DESK BOOK BEST Filed Jan. 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

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H. MG. SMYTH PORTABLE DESK BOOK REST Fild Jan.$. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented J an. 10, 1928.

UN T D STA Possum mask Book nns'r.

' Application filed January 3, 1924. Setlallio. 684,139. 7 i

The object of my invention is to provide a portable holder for books, copy, and the like which'may be conveniently set on'any table top, and which is adapted. for" being 5 arranged to hold thebook in readily read.

The particular object of my invention, furthermore, is to provide an inexpensive, durable book rest, preferably made of wood,

and at the same time of such construction that the parts are capable of supporting safely books of some weight.

To this end, my invention comprises a base or foot adapted for being set on a table 1 top; a post pivotally mounted on said foot and adjustable in a vertical plane, the pivotal means including devices for securing the post in place as adjusted; companion arms having the inner ends pivoted to the upper end of said post and adjustable in a plane making an angle with the plane of the pivot. axis of the post; and rackscarriedby said arms. 1

Other details of construction and the operation of my book rest or support are hereinafter fully described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved book rest showing its preferable construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top View of my book rest. with the parts somewhat difierently arranged relbook rest,

atively to each other than as shown in the preceding views;

Fig. 4 shows details of construction in perspective of the arms of my book rest;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective of my book rest with the base or foot thereof, and the post pivoted on the latter somewhat modified in construction with respect to that shown in the preceding views;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the modified book rest, shown in Fig. 5, also illustrating in dotted lines, the adjustments which may be made of the post; and

Fig. 7 is a plan or top view of my modified book rest as appearing in one adjustment thereof.

My book rest, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, comprises a base or foot 1 adapted to be stood on a table top. The 'footis provided with two spaced perpendicular ears. Between said ears is pivoted the lower end of the post 3 by a screw bolt 1' on which is position to be thumb nut 17 threaded a thumb nut 5. The upperend 3 of said post 3 is slotted, as at'6, to receive the inner ends oft-he arms 7, 7 and on the latter are mounted thebook-supporting racks 8.

Bycurving the post 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and making the plane of the slot 6, provided in the upper end of said post to extend at an angle with the plane of the axis on which the post is pivotally mounted on the foot, I provide a book rest which may be readil adjusted to supportv the book at any angle convenient to thereader; furthermore, the devices so combined provide a very efiicient, simple and inexpensive book rest. 7

The racks 8comprise a back 8 and a flange 8 along the lower edges, the latter being adapted to support the book in place. I,

The inner ends of the arms 7 are recessed so as to be adapted to be placed one on the other. Thus the so overlapped inner ends of saidarms have the same thickness as the other portions of these arms. The arms are pivoted in place by a screw-bolt 11 inserted through holes 10 therefor'provided on the inner ends of said arms; and on said screw bolt is threaded a thumb-nut 12, preferably seated on a washer 18.

The book'rest shown by Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is, in substance, like the book rest just described with the following exceptions: The

. post is jointed so as to permit it being made of two straight pieces instead of a single curved piece like the post 3. The base or foot of my book rack is also somewhat moditied in construction. Referring to the de tails shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive: The base 14 is made substantially T-shaped. The base is grooved, as at 15, to provide a slot in which-.the lower end of the lower member of the post 16 is pivotally mounted by a screw-bolt 17 provided with a clamping I further provide a recess 14 in the base or foot 14 in which to insert a counter-weight 1 1". The upper end of the lower piece 16 of the post is slotted as at 18, and in such slot is pivotally mounted one end of the upper piece 19 of the post by means of a screw-bolt 22, on which is threaded a clamping thumb-nut 23. The upper piece 19 of this post is slotted as at 20, and therein are mounted the inner ends of the arms 21, 21, which are of similar construction as the arms 7, 7, previously described. Said arms 21, 21 are adjustably secured in place by a screw-bolt 27 on which is threaded a PATENT omen. p v

: upwardly from the base and provided with aligned perforations, a post fitted between A portable desk book rest, comprisinga' fiat base, a pair of vertical ears extending the perforated vertical ears and extending upwardly therefrom, the upper portion of the post being extended forwardly and; provided at its free end with a horizontally disposed slot, a screw extending through the perforations in the vertical ears and the rename lower end of the post, a thumb nut engaging the threaded end of the screw, a pair of arms having their inner ends perforated and reduced in thickness and overlapping the reduced'overlapping ends of the arms fitting in the horizontally disposed slot in the free end of the post, a screw extending through the upper slottedend of the post and the perforations in the overlapping reduced ends of the arms, a thumb nut engaging the threaded end of the last mentioned screw, and a book rest carried by the free outer end of each, arm.

- HOWARD MOGAVV SMYTH. 

